Paintings depict the Tjukurpa, the Law and stories of Ancestors. Anangu (Central and Western Desert Aboriginal people) have responsibilities for the protection and teaching of different Tjukurpa and there are strict protocols for the imparting of knowledge. The dotting technique has evolved with the need to adapt sacred expressions of Tjukurpa for public viewing and as a depiction of the desert landscape.
Wanampi or Water Serpents, are powerful creatures that inhabit and guard over waterholes. Local custodians hold the stories of the ancestors’ activities at specific sites across the country and thus know where the Wanampi are located. These ancestors are always treated with special reverence and respect for their powers and waterholes are never approached lightly.
Malya's ancestral country Malara lies to the south west of Uluru and is an important site for Wanampi. His painting is a highly coded reference to the warmala or war party of snake men that travelled out across the country from there. He shows the men with their weapons sitting together in various campsites.
Details
Artist: Malya Teamay
Title: Warmala (War Party)
Size: 76x105cm
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
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